The Masters of Fantasy Art Tour Announced

Sony Online Entertainment issued a press release this afternoon announcing an upcoming art tour that will showcase the works of fantasy artist Keith Parkinson.

THE MASTERS OF FANTASY ART – A TRIBUTE TO KEITH PARKINSON ART TOUR SET TO TRAVEL TO THE ART INSTITUTE GALLERIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Tribute to Renowned Fantasy Artist Keith Parkinson to Demonstrate Classical Influence on Computer and Video Game Art

SAN DIEGO, CA., FEBRUARY 5, 2007 Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, and Sigil Games Online announced today an exhibition with The Art Institutes to bring (The Masters of Fantasy Art A Tribute to Keith Parkinson) to five major cities across America. The tour will showcase the artwork of seminal artist Keith Parkinson as well as Vanguard: Saga of Heroesâ„¢, his posthumous masterpiece. Beginning this month in San Francisco, the tour is scheduled to be on display at The Art Institutes galleries across the country.

The Masters of Fantasy Art elegantly displays the convergence of fine art and technology in today’s interactive entertainment industry. The late Keith Parkinson continues to act as art director in memorandum for Sigil Games Online. His artwork has directly influenced the artistic vision for Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game that will launched on January 30, 2007.

(Our goal for ‘˜The Masters of Fantasy Art’ tour is to highlight the artistry that is integral to the creation of video games, as well as the influences of classical art on the industry as a whole,) said Laura Naviaux, Senior Brand Manager, at Sony Online Entertainment. (By showcasing Keith Parkinson’s work on the new Vanguard: Saga of Heroes online videogame and joining up with The Art Institute, we hope to raise the public’s awareness of computer and graphical arts as a discipline.)

(When we were approached to participate in this tribute to the late Keith Parkinson, we were thrilled at the idea of bringing the unique world of online video game art to a more mainstream audience,) said John Mazzoni, President, The Art Institutes. (We are staunch supporters of artists in all genres and understand the importance of increasing public awareness and interest of art, and being able to do that while paying tribute to a renowned fantasy artist is an honor for us.)

(Commercial fantasy artwork, be it on book covers or in video games is often overlooked as an art form. I am excited to help, through my father’s art, shine the spotlight on not only his works but the teams of hardworking and immensely talented artists who make these worlds truly come alive,) said Nick Parkinson, son of Keith Parkinson, and Community Manager for Vanguard: Saga of Heroes.

(The Masters of Fantasy Art A Tribute to Keith Parkinson) is scheduled to be on exhibition at the following locations and dates:

February 2 26
The Art Institute of California – San Francisco
1170 Market St. (at U.N. Plaza)
San Francisco, CA 94102
888- 493-3261
http://www.artinstitutes.edu/sanfrancisco/

March 6 – April 2
The Art Institute of Las Vegas
2350 Corporate Circle
Henderson, Nevada 89074-7737
702-369-9944
http://www.artinstitutes.edu/arlington/

April 9 – April 27
The Art Institute of Washington
1820 North Fort Myer Dr.
Arlington, VA 22209-1802
877-303-3771
http://www.artinstitutes.edu/arlington/

May 8 May 25
The Art Institute of New York City
11-17 Beach Street
New York, NY 10013
(in TriBeCa, near corner of Varick)
800.654.2433
http://www.artinstitutes.edu/newyork/

June 4 July 31
The Art Institute of California – San Diego
7650 Mission Valley Road
San Diego, CA 92108
800-591-2422
http://www.artinstitutes.edu/sandiego/

About Keith Parkinson

Trained as a classical artist, Keith Parkinson created well-known fantasy art images and book covers serving as the hallmark art style for the fantasy genre. His early work included book covers for the top-selling Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, and Gamma World. He also painted covers for best-selling fantasy writers Terry Goodkind, Margaret Weis, and Terry Brooks. Turning toward technology, Keith began work in the video games industry creating artwork for the original EverQuest, an incredibly successful and genre-defining online role-playing game. He later joined Sigil Games Online working as art director to create the artistic vision behind Vanguard: Saga of Heroes before his death in 2005. For more information about Keith Parkinson, or to preview his paintings, log on to www.keithparkinson.com

About Vanguard: Saga of Heroes

The next generation of massively multiplayer online games, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes launched on January 30, 2007. The only limits are your own in the fantasy world of Telon, where the adventurous can choose from multiple paths of exploration within the three spheres of advancement: Adventuring, Crafting, and Diplomacy. Players can delve into the mysteries of three vast continents, and embark upon quests to slay monstrous beasts locked deep inside rugged mountain ranges. Those with a quick mind can use diplomacy to convince kings to move armies and change the course of history. With player-crafted boats, flying mounts, and customizable player housing, Vanguard offers players a world of their own choosing.

About The Art Institutes

The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), with 32 educational institutions located throughout North America, provides an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.

About Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.
SOE and the SOE logo are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC.

About Sigil Games Online

Based in Carlsbad, California, Sigil Games Online is a studio dedicated to creating massively multiplayer online (MMO) games. Founded in 2002 by Brad McQuaid and Jeff Butler, key figures in the development of award-winning EverQuest, the company plans to be a driving force in the continued evolution of this unique genre. Sigil Games Online is comprised of an all-star team of experienced developers with an impressive pedigree of commercially successful and critically acclaimed online games. The company’s first game, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, will be co-published with Sony Online Entertainment and was released on January 30, 2007. For more information, visit www.sigilgames.com.